JacketFlap connects you to the work of more than 200,000 authors, illustrators, publishers and other creators of books for Children and Young Adults. The site is updated daily with information about every book, author, illustrator, and publisher in the children's / young adult book industry. Members include published authors and illustrators, librarians, agents, editors, publicists, booksellers, publishers and fans. Join now (it's free).
Login or Register for free to create your own customized page of blog posts from your favorite blogs. You can also add blogs by clicking the "Add to MyJacketFlap" links next to the blog name in each post.
Blog Posts by Tag
In the past 7 days
Blog Posts by Date
Click days in this calendar to see posts by day or month
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: Manuscript, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 25 of 32
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: Manuscript in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
Rescue Press invites entries for the Black Box Poetry Prize, a contest for full-length collections of poetry. Open to poets at any stage in their writing careers. Judge: Douglas Kearney. No reading fee; however donations are appreciated and go toward publishing the winning manuscript(s). Authors who donate $15 or more receive a Rescue Press book of their choice. Deadline: June 30, 2016.
Twitter: @rescuepress.co
You type, “The End.”
Then, you write a fast letter to an editor and send off a couple sample chapters.
Oops!
You forgot one thing. That manuscript needs to cool off before you send it out.
It is the single, hardest thing for me to do. I do not want to wait and besides that, I KNOW the revisions I just did are fantastic and the editor will be dying to read it. Yes? No.
Sadly, I send out material before it is ready. When I wait and read something even a week later, I find so many more things to revise.
Repeated words. Subconsciously, I fall in love with this word or that and it repeated endlessly. I don’t notice this unless the mss has rested a while and then, the words stick out like pimples. My goal is to cut that repetition to a single instance. After all, a single pimple isn’t bad, it’s the allover pimple face that’s bad. Two words I constantly overuse are bit and whirl: She whirled around a bit before settling down. Not bad, until she whirls 13.5 times per chapter.
Spelling and Grammar. OK, all you grammar witches. I know you are out there, because you email me all the time. My blog posts tend to be more off the cuff and I pay for it in humiliation every time a Grammar Witch reports in. (NOTE: I LOVE you, Grammar Witch. I am yours to command. I just WISH I had your eye for detail.) My remedial Grammar Witch glasses only work well when a mss has cooled off a while. Then, things pop out at me.
Pacing. I am much better at spotting pacing problems after something has cooled off. It is the places where I–the author–lose interest and start skimming. Oh, that’s bad when I can’t even keep myself entertained. On the other hand, I often find places to slow down, to zoom in and let the reader feel more emotions. Either way, I need the story to sit a while before I can spot these.
Vague, Unsettled Dissatisfaction. It’s hard to say exactly what this is, because it varies with each manuscript. Just–something is wrong. Off. I can usually pinpoint what that is and fix it. But when I can’t do that immediately, I start analysis, such as the Shrunken Manuscript or using other tools from Novel Metamorphosis. Because I must find and fix whatever it is. Usually–there’s something and it’s not a minor something. I just can’t see it right away.
Write what you want to write,
say the editors.
Write what you love,
say the editors.
I write.
I love this!
Well, say the editors, it lacks a plot.
OK.
I write what I love and
make sure it has a plot.
A good ‘un.
(Hey, I’ve studied Hunger Games,
and the Edgar winning mysteries;
I know a good plot
when I read it.)
I love this!
Well, say the editors, the voice doesn’t grab me.
OK. I write what I love and
make sure it has a plot and
make sure the voice is unique, compelling.
A good ‘un.
(Hey, I’ve studied the Newberys,
the Caldecotts, the Alexes,
the Sieberts,
the Edgars, and so on.
I know voice when I hear it;
and I know how to create it.)
I love this!
Well, say the editors, the plot
is great;
the voice
is great;
but I don’t really connect with the characters enough.
OK. I write what I love and
make sure it has a plot and
make sure the voice is unique and
make sure that the characters are connectable.
A really good ‘un.
(Hey, by now, I’ve read all the New York Time’s
Bestsellers, the National Book Award winners,
plus any other @#$#$@ novel
that anyone ever recommends.
I know a good book when I read it–
or write it.)
Hey, I really love this!
Well, says the editor, you got everything right:
plot, characters, voice–
but it’s too quiet.
Where, oh where is that sweet spot?
And how can I write something else
that I love,
knowing that
no one else will love it?
Where is that sweet editor?
When you do a manuscript critique at a conference, you must be ready to push for an answer to a crucial question; and you must have a back-up plan.
I’ve been backstage at conferences, in the break room where the editors are gathering and chatting. I’ve heard them come back from a critique session and talk.
Editor: I told the writer that the story was great and the voice was great, but they just didn’t match up. This is a picture book, but the writing is like a YA novel. They just wanted to argue and tell me a long story about why they wrote the picture book. Why would they waste their time and my time that way?
Indeed. At a manuscript critique, you can expect to hear at least one good thing about your story. But then–you asked for an honest critique!–you will hear some things that are not-so-good, need-work, needs-rethinking, WILL-mean-a-total-revision. Duh. Editors are in the BUSINESS of telling writers how to revise. Do you think a critique will be any different? No.
So, when you go into a critique, expect a laundry list of things that need to be done. Do not take your ego into the critique with you. This cannot be an emotional breakdown. Take a notepad and take notes about what needs work? Ask critical questions that show you understand their opinion and would like to understand even deeper.
Close the Deal with a Crucial Question
After listening, politely ask, “If I make these revisions, would you like to see the manuscript again?” This is the REAL goal of your session, an invitation to submit this manuscript again.
If the editor responds yes, you’re done. Chat for a minute or so longer, if there’s time, but get out early if you can. You got what you wanted and needed.
What if the editor says, “No, this isn’t something I can publish.”
Back Up Plan–Pitch
Then–you pitch! A pitch to an agent is a brief distillation of your novel into a 30-second teaser. You’ll want to have pitches for 3-5 manuscripts ready to go. After listening to the editor’s presentations at the conference and talking with him/her about your mss, choose one or two of the manuscripts. And follow-up the previous question with a pitch about these stories.
And again, ask, “May I send you this manuscript (synopsis and sample chapters)?
The 10-15 minutes of private time with an editor or agent is a great opportunity to get feedback on your current story; but it’s also a great time to drum up interest in a different story. Don’t waste this precious time trying to justify some minor point in the critique. Listen, learn, sell.
I have recently turned in two project and in this slow business, it is time to “Hurry Up and Wait.” I don’t do this well. We’ve already taken vacations for the year. So, I’ve made a to-do list.
Volunteer. There are some projects that I’ve wanted to do pro-bono, so this is the time to dive in and get them done.
Gone Fishing for Stories. I am reading two books about the mythical island of Atlantis, trolling for ideas. It may come to nothing, but I am trolling and hoping to catch a big one.
Read Dracula. Really. I recently read a comment from someone that she liked reading Twilight and thought it a good read; then, she read Dracula and found out what really good writing was like. Shrug. I may or may not agree, but I’ve got it downloaded on my Kindle to read. Click here for an interesting look at a variety of Dracula book covers.
Promote. You know me as a writing teacher; but I can only teach because I also write. And I am in the depths of promotion for my new book, DESERT BATHS. Wow, there’s lots of things to do. I have promo copies to give away and people to talk with.
Write speeches on Social Media and Novel Revision. I have a couple upcoming big presentations: a three-hour presentation on Social Media and a two-hour presentation on novel revision. The problem with the novel revision is condensing and focusing a weekend retreat into only two hours. The problem with the social media presentation is figuring out what I think about the mass of information I have, and then figure out how to present it. (If you run across any good articles on social media, any breaking news–please send me a link!)
Blog Projects. Of the several long-term projects for this blog, I will be working on some videos.
Write 750words.com. If all else fails, I will turn to 750words.com and write for 15-20 minutes without stopping.
Try something new. I could learn about Instagram, do a Pinterest tutorial, or write a sonnet. I like the sonnet idea.
Take a long walk. Walk and walk and walk and walk.
We work all the time with authors and publishers, turning their new or existing books into eBook formats, but so far I’ve yet to receive a manuscript that’s been correctly prepared for the process.
When I say that, many prospective eBook authors or publishers cringe, thinking I’m going to ask them to do something esoteric and difficult. And after all, they say, isn’t that what they’re paying me for?
But the truth is, no matter how you choose to get your book into eBook formats—hire someone, use an online publishing service, or do it yourself–there are some simple things you can learn and put into practice that will make the process easier, less expensive, and have better results.
The first thing to learn is something that, again, many authors shudder to hear: that’s the fact that, as far as the software is concerned, an eBook is really the red-haired stepson of a web page. (With all due respect to red-haired people and stepsons everywhere.) To really get inside and tinker with the inner workings of an eBook, you really need to know a little about the HTML code that is used in web pages.
But that doesn’t mean that an author who may know nothing of web page code, or care even less, has to learn anything other than a few tips, a very basic understanding of how code works, and a couple of ways to prepare a manuscript. It’s really not much harder than following a publisher’s guidelines.
Let’s start with the tips. These might be easiest simply to list. Don’t use tabs. If your manuscript has a tab in it, it will vanish like dew in the desert. (The tab, not your manuscript, that is.) Don’t use a blank carriage return to separate text. By that I mean hitting your Enter or Return key twice to separate two paragraphs. A blank line will disappear equally as fast as a tab when the text is converted to an eBook. Your beautifully separated paragraphs will run together. Don’t count on fonts to tell your story. True, the Kindle Fire and the iPad can now support many different fonts, but the older devices can’t. Plus it’s a very tricky issue because some fonts are copyrighted by their creators and, even though you can use them beautifully in a Word document, it’s a big no-no to include them in an eBook. Best, for the time being, to stick with the standard fonts like Times and Arial. Anyway, the standard Kindle will display your book in the font it wants to, regardless. Don’t rely on your word processor’s automatic bulleting and numbering feature. It’s a great way to save you from typing 1, 2, 3, etc., but most eBooks will refuse to recognize it. Instead, bite the bullet and type numbers in manually.
Now for that basic understanding of how the eBook code works. Instead of having to explain over and over again to the eBook reading device how a particular line of text should look to a reader, the code uses a type of shortcut. So, instead of having the hidden code have to say all this:
“Okay, for the next paragraph, display it in Times, Roman, 12 point, with a .25 inch indent on the first line and a line separation of 18 points and a space-and-a-half extra space after the paragraph, and, oh, by the way, make the whole thing display in blue”
Today I have a great article about the craft of writing from writing coach Suzanne Lieurance.
How to Write Tight - Self-Editing Tips to Make Your Manuscript Ready For Publication
by Suzanne Lieurance
As writers, we hear it all the time. We need to "write tight", which just means we need to trim all the flab from our manuscripts and make every word count.
Here are some self-editing tips that will help you "write tight" and take your manuscripts from flabby to fit for publication in no time!
1. Avoid a lot of back story - information about the POV character's history and background. Weave all this into the story instead of loading the manuscript down with too many sentences or paragraphs of straight narrative before the action begins.
2. Simplify your sentences wherever possible. Watch for redundant or unnecessary phrases. As writers, we need to "show, not tell" as often as possible. Yet, some writers tend to show and then tell the same information, which is redundant. Watch out for this in your manuscripts. Also, look for the redundant phrases below and others like them.
Stand up = stand Sit down = sit Turned around = turned He thought to himself = He thought She shrugged her shoulders = she shrugged She whispered softly = she whispered He nodded his head = he nodded
3. Avoid adverbs for the most part. Use strong, descriptive verbs instead.
Flabby: She smiled slightly at the photographer. Fit: She grinned at the photographer.
4. Avoid using the same word over and over in a paragraph. Go back and reread each sentence. Have you repeated the same word several times within a single sentence or paragraph? If so, substitute another word with the same meaning.
5. Don't overuse names. Beginning writers tend to have the characters address each other by name too often. When you speak to a friend, you don't constantly say his name. Don't have your characters do this either. It doesn't ring true, and it draws the reader OUT of the story.
6. Limit the description in a dialogue tag. Again, beginning writers tend to load down the dialogue tags (the "he said, she said" part of the dialogue) with too many details. If you must describe what a character is doing AS he says something, put that information in a separate sentence, not in the dialogue tag. And keep it short.
7. Avoid participle phrases - particularly at the beginning of sentences. Participle phrases end in the letters -ing. Go back over every page of your manuscript and circle the places where you've started a sentence with a participle phrase. If your manuscript is loaded down with participle phrases it tends to distract the reader and pull him out of the story.
8. No idle chit-chat. Be sure the dialogue advances the storyline. Readers don't need to hear the characters talking about anything that doesn't somehow relate directly to what's happened so far or what will happen next or later in the story.
9. Minimize use of the passive voice. Here's an example of passive voice: The ball was hit by Susan. Here's the same information in active voice: Susan hit the ball.
10. Use active, descriptive verbs. Flabby: I was the one who made the decision to go home. Fit: I decided to go home.
Strengthen weak verbs. You can usually eliminate was and were by replacing them with stronger, more descriptive verbs. Usually, was and were precede an -ing word, and you can change the -ing word to make it stronger.
Flabby:He was talking to my brot
6 Comments on How to Write Tight - Self-Editing Tips to Make Your Manuscript Ready For Publication, last added: 4/7/2012
Excellent tips and well worth working through every time we edit something - it's easy for weak verbs, 'stall phrases' (great term), and participle phrases to creep in.
What do dieting and writing have in common? They often travel together—and should. In writing, to diet means to determine what words, phrases, and extraneous content need to go. They represent the unwanted pounds that weigh down a manuscript.
Revision gives the writer an opportunity to go through her copy to tighten her sentences and rephrase passages for the most effective copy possible. According to best-selling author Roy Peter Clark, “…The concrete noun lets us see and the action verb helps us move. Experts on writing have always preferred strong nouns and verbs.”
For several years, writers have been urged to “trim the fat” of extraneous adverbs and adjectives. We’re encouraged to use lean, mean story construction for readers’ pleasure, while holding and expanding that pleasure with the ebb and flow of concrete detail and curiosity-generating abstract thought.
Purpose-driven writing takes time to conceive and deliver. Those in the writing business today have many recommendations for writers about their content. For instance, web content has specific parameters for the writer; length should run within 250-500 words, snappy headline titles grab a reader’s interest; copy should have plenty of pertinent links to other sites for more information.
When you stop to consider that readers of web content are, in general, looking for particular subjects, research material, etc., the standards derived are necessary and make sense. Keywords used within the copy help snag attention from search engines, while the organization of the copy finishes drawing in those engines.
Novels and magazines don’t have search engines, but searches are made. Readers talk to each other. The discoveries of one become shared knowledge and generate recommendations to other readers. Therefore, the same logic applies to novels.
Interest and reader staying-power is forfeited, if detailed descriptions bog down the reader’s quest to move with the story line. With non-fiction, writing rules for fiction can prevent an article from boring the reader to death. Poetry, too, uses some of fiction’s rules to keep the reader motivated and moving forward to the end.
The diet begins when the first draft is complete. Experienced writers know that by the time the first revision is finished, their stories have passed one hurdle of the editing process. Entire swathes of descriptive narrative lay on the editing floor. Subtext paths that went nowhere are removed. Most of all, the concrete feel of the piece has come to the foreground.
Parts and pieces of story line, description, character backstory, etc. have bitten the bullet, dying as they lived; in that brief twilight second from the writer’s hand.
With the second revision, more noun changes with precise action verbs bring paragraphs to attention. The few remaining adjectives are trade
10 Comments on Whether to Diet or Not, last added: 3/20/2012
Loved this:
Entire swathes of descriptive narrative lay on the editing floor. Subtext paths that went nowhere are removed. Most of all, the concrete feel of the piece has come to the foreground.
A perfect description of what happens! Great post.
claudsy said, on 3/19/2012 6:53:00 AM
Thank you, Eloise. Glad you liked it. I’m developing a taste for revision and editing. I don’t bleed any longer when I have to cut an especially good line, paragraph, or more.
Yesterday I dumped an entire four pages without a whimper. I must be getting immune to the “Hold onto it” syndrome.
Claudsy
Eloise Currie said, on 3/19/2012 8:00:00 AM
I agree. I’ve also gotten used to my own red ink. I can now leave loads on the editing floor. The finished product can end up being more changes than original. But that’s ok. I’ve also stopped hanging on to numerous versions of things, having gotten honest with myself about the fact that I’ll never look at them again.
claudsy said, on 3/19/2012 10:08:00 AM
It sure takes long enough to get to that point, doesn’t it?
Hannah Gosselin said, on 3/19/2012 8:51:00 PM
Perfectly relevant and well-written, Clauds. I need to hear this: revise. I shall benefit from taking this bit on I think. Thank you!
claudsy said, on 3/19/2012 9:12:00 PM
Thanks, Hannah. The bane or the salvation of the writer. We get to choose how to approach it. Aren’t we lucky?
Hannah Gosselin said, on 3/20/2012 5:55:00 PM
Yes, I think we are. Sort of like the glass half full or half empty, right? It’s all in the way we choose to perceive it.
claudsy said, on 3/20/2012 9:49:00 PM
When you make peace with it, Hannah, I think you come to a point where the glass is always at least half full. Perception is all we have to define our reality. Amazing, isn’t it.
Now that it's Spring, new growth is popping up all over the place. I'm tempted to linger outside and enjoy the weather. All right, I confess, I did give in for a while. I sat on the patio and read from my kindle, with Rascal nearby basking in the late afternoon sun.
It's so very tempting to play hooky from writing and continue to enjoy the weather, with all the new growth around me.
The problem is by continuing to enjoy the new growth outside, my manuscript won't get finished inside. My new growth will not get accomplished. So, as tempting as the weather is, I'm setting a limit on participating in my appreciation for the greater growth of my manuscript.
Here in Canada our season is so short. I couldn't resist taking a rare break on the weekend and enjoying the sunshine with my Kindle. Ended up falling asleep on the deck chair with the Kindle on my lap. That was Saturday and I woke more refreshed than I've felt in years. Now I have a brand new novel idea burning in my brain. All thanks to new growth and sunshine. LOL
I have been sitting at my desk all day, getting up to get more tea or to ... well, get rid of the tea. I am ready to go outside and check out the garden.
My desk faces the window, so occasionally I catch sight of a bluebird, a deer, a squirrel or roadrunner. So that's not too bad.
I'm all for taking a break and enjoying the weather while I can. All too soon it will be "too hot" and I'll be searching for the air conditioning! DL Larson
It is all a balancing act. I try to force myself to the commuter first and then as the ideas or energy runs away, I run to the sunshine. Problem is I don't come back after the sunshine but at least something gets done! Great post Morgan! Wendy W.S. Gager www.wsgager.com
Boy, it is hard to strike a balance, isn't it? There are only so many hours in a day. I guess the best thing is to enjoy sometimes, and work other times. It can be hard to change gears though and to avoid guilt.
Today upon reading my email when getting home I discovered that my manuscript had been returned from the editor! Yeah! It's just like Christmas, or maybe more like a first date. Did they like it? How many comments did they make? When I open it will I be utterly deflated as a writer, or will I be disappointed that maybe they didn't put their heart into it?
I opened it, after having to download a free unzip program because my WinZip trial had expired. (I'm not paying for a simple thing I can get for free.) And, I was not disappointed! I think they gave it a fair review. Good productive comments and some atta girl comments too for certain parts! Especially the ending! They love the ending! So I am so excited and motivated to really critique it with regard to their comments and well, you can see a bit for yourself my cover letter and pages one and two. Page three is hidden behind. Not all the red is bad. As I said they also included positive comments too. I am pleased with Author House so far.
Just for your reading pleasure, and because I am so excited here is an excerpt from their cover letter to me:
Dear Kimberlee Prokhorov:
It has been my pleasure to assist in the Developmental Edit of your manuscript, Beatrice and Raymond. It’s a beautiful story, and I’m confident it will reassure young readers that change is something to embrace instead of fear.
0 Comments on Like Christmas! or a First Date? as of 1/1/1900
Have you always wanted to write a novel?Have you been working on one, or even have one completed, but don’t know what to do with?
When I became a published author and started doing book signings and school events, I was surprised how many people told me that they like to write and are in some stage of writing a novel. There were many people who helped me along my road to becoming a published author and I would like to repay the favor. It can be a confusing road, and it helps to have someone help you who has been there before.
For these reasons, I've just decided to create a program to assist aspiring authors.I will select submissions on an ongoing basis from authors who have a project they are working on.The submission will mirror what editors and agents expects to get from an author.From the submissions that I get, I will select one every two months and work with that author.I will help you edit the query letter and your first three chapters, and help you find a few editors or agents to which they can submit.
Additionally, I will answer any questions they may have about the process and give my honest feedback of their work.I will do all of this free of charge.
In order to submit, please send the first 20 pages of your manuscript and a query letter to [email protected]. The first submission period ends Feb 28th. Good luck!
Manuscripts:
Should be 12pt Times New Roman font, 1 inch margins, with pages numbered and a header with “Author’s Last Name”/”Project Keyword” at the top of each page.
Query Letters:
Should only be about 250 words and should include word count of total project, genre, brief “movie trailer” description of the story, and a short paragraph about your publishing experience.
1 Comments on Aspiring Authors, last added: 1/27/2011
Two agents have weighed in on my book. Agent #1, on whose critique of the first 75 pages I bid at a charity auction, said, This delivers. You have quirky characters, and people up to no good. I love the humor in the book; you’re very funny.
Here's the but. When I asked if she'd be interested in representing it, she said it wasn't her kind of book; she tends more towards family dramas. But - she did ask me to send her the rest of the manuscript, which she looked forward to reading.
And in even better news....I asked the agent who'd requested the full manuscript a few months ago for a status report. And she said, We have been considering your manuscript, which we think is very good, but needs some revisions before we'd be able to take it on. We thought that ANIMAL CRACKER was very funny, well-paced, and irreverent. The heroine is brash and relatable, which makes what could be conventional chick lit feel fresh and engaging. We did think, though, that the second half of the book could use some work...the resolution, even for such a lighthearted work, came too easily. We'd love to see a revision that addresses these ideas.
I shall revise away.
0 Comments on They liked it. They really liked it! as of 1/1/1900
Wow, you guys were on fire tonight! I’ll follow up on the great suggestion about starting an Editing Hotline for ScribeChat members when I’ve had a chance to work out the logistics. My hands are getting rather full, so I’ll need your collaboration, but I think it’s a wonderful idea!
In the meantime, here’s the transcript, [...]
Related posts:
I should call this The Lazy Blogger. Or maybe the blogger-without-anything-to-say.
The truth is I'm putting most of my creative energies into, what else, the rewrite. After doubts of self and book doctor, I'm cutting, pasting, and creating new scenes (one quite brilliant one suggested by book m.d.) and guess what! It's getting better all the time.
I should be finished in a couple of weeks. Amy, book doctor, is in Russia at the moment, and had told me she could review the rewrite in either early June or September. Guess which is my favorite month.
I am considering sending it out to one particular agent I've been eyeing even ifAmy hasn't read it. Have I mentioned that I'm impatient, impetuous, impolitic and, yeah, immature? This agent says on his website that he has a soft spot for stories featuring animals. And the name of my book is...Animal Cracker! Yes, little critters figure prominently.
He will receive my query and sample pages. He will say, "Damn, she's good." He will email me immediately to request the full manuscript. He will call me a week later and ask me to come to New York to review our contract. He tells me he will begin submitting it to publishers immediately. He will contact me the following week with a two-word email: Bidding War! He will call me back with a $ number that will clear all my debts and then some. He will tell me that negotiations have begun on movie rights.
8 Essential Steps Before Submitting Your Manuscript
Writing is a personal experience. Each writer faces his or her own obstacles and processes. But, one common aspect of writing is it always starts with an idea. You may take that idea and turn it into an outline. You then take your outline and sprinkle it with letters and words and watch it grow. Words turn into sentences, sentences into paragraphs, and paragraphs into chapters. The journey can take months and even years. But, the love of writing, the love of your story, and the hope of publication keep you dedicated.
Then, the day finally arrives. Your manuscript is complete. The envelopes are ready. All you have to do is submit, submit, and submit again. But, hold on a minute. Have you gone over all the necessary steps to ensure your manuscript is actually ready to be submitted to a publisher or agent?
The writing journey can take months and even years. But, the love of writing, the love of your story, and the hope of publication keep you dedicated.
Time passes, and finally your manuscript is complete. The envelopes are ready. All you have to do is submit, submit, and submit again. But, hold on a minute. Have you gone over all the necessary steps to ensure your manuscript is actually ready to be submitted to a publisher or agent?
Here are eight steps that every writer, especially those new to the business of writing, should follow before submitting a manuscript:
Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. Then self-edit your story until it’s the best you can do.
Make sure you belong to a critique group in your genre. Submit your ms for critique.
Revise your story again taking into account the critiques you received. Here you want to use common sense in regard to which critiques you listen to. If all your critique group members tell you a particular section of your children’s story is age inappropriate, listen. If one member tells you he/she doesn’t like the protagonist’s name, use your own discretion.
Resubmit the manuscript to the critique group again. See if you’ve revised or removed all the problem areas.
Proofread and self-edit the manuscript until you think it’s perfect.
Print the manuscript and check it again. You’ll be surprised at the different types of errors that will be found in this format. You should use a colored pen or pencil for these corrections so they’ll be easy to spot later on.
Now, it’s time for the final corrections. Give it another go over.
Have your manuscript professionally edited.
Yes, You Need an Editor.
If you’re questioning why you need to have your manuscript professionally edited after going to the trouble of having it critiqued and worked on it meticulously and endlessly, the answer is simple: An author and a critique group are not a match for the expert eyes of a professional editor.
Did you and your critiq
0 Comments on Is Your Manuscript Ready for Submission? as of 1/1/1900
Yesterday, I started brainstorming on revisions for a picture book. I got some editorial feedback in February when I saw the editor in NYC. But it’s been hard to approach this revision because when we talked, I disagreed with much of what the editor said.
Cooling Off Period Helps Me See Editor’s Wisdom
So, I put it aside for a while and when I went back with a more objective look, I could at least understand the editor’s position. That’s a good starting place. So, I opened the file, made a minor change and then saved it with a new title, “MssForThisEditor.” This way, I keep the original story intact and label this version as revised just to address one editor’s concerns.
Then, I attempted to throw away all my preconceived notions of what this story was and where it could and should go. I started jotting ideas, objections, words, imagery, rants against the suggested changes, rants against the rants, and generally preparing myself mentally to revise. I allowed a couple hours for this, then moved to a different task.
This morning, My Subconscious told me that it had been working on the problem overnight and had some ideas. Well. That was a surprise.
Good. My Conscious still likes the original better, but I’ll let ol’ Sub work a while today and see what happens.
Not much to report... Spending my time making various decisions about 'The Poisoned Apple' involving length and what to include from the now defunct second book and what not to include (Larry is pleased to discover he's no longer going to be singing and dancing his way through Corpsetithe and the Wolf Dude is happy that his namesake, Wolfram Lavoisier, hasn't been shredded). Most of the original second book will end up as waste paper as the series is going in a different direction to originally planned - assuming it ever becomes a series that is.
Observation: One good thing about concentrating on longer works, you don't wake up every morning begging your inbox for a short story acceptance. At the moment when I get a rejection, I'm filing them as 'sort later' and forgetting about them. It's very freeing. I like it.
12 Comments on The Poisoned Manuscript, last added: 4/10/2009
I'm anticipating two rejections. Maybe it's high time I outlined my novella--seriously, this time. Good luck writing your novel, Catherine. I sounds fascinating.
I noticed that too! I never think to say anything about rejections or even acceptances at times because I'm like "oh, bummer" or "sweet!!" and then I realize I've been sidetracked from the novel thing. It is rather freeing, I never thought about that!
I sometimes use weekends just to chat with you. Today is no exception, except today I need to share a personal story and ask for some honest feedback.
I'm going to take a deep breath first. This is difficult.
Over six years ago, I sold a children's story called Tango and Tilly to a publisher in Canada. I was contracted for this manuscript and six more in the series.
This book was my heart because it was based on my own horse Tango (who I adore)...and me.
I used Tango's antics as my inspiration. I used my imagination and joy to write the stories.
I won't go into great detail (partially for legal reasons), but through no fault of my own, two years into the process, my rights were returned to me. I've been sitting on the story since 2006.
Last weekend, out of the blue, someone said to me, "I bought your book for my granddaughter, and she loves it!"
I asked which book and she said, Tango and Tilly.
I was flabbergasted. Long story short. Somehow, some way, my book is being sold (or shown as available) illegally through many sources. It would cost me tens of thousands of dollars to pursue this legally. I don't have that kind of money.
Here is my question to you: If I had the book re-illustrated and then self-published Tango and Tilly, do you think I could generate enough interest to sell it through this blog? If it is successful, I could sell subsequent stories to a publisher here in the states.
That's it. Please spill your guts. Be honest with me. I believe in honesty. The original publisher has nothing to do with this horrible situation.
25 Comments on Jan Mader Tango and Tilly....my stolen book....., last added: 4/6/2009
I think you should pursue litigation through the link shared by another friend (posted above), and also that you should self-publish this book through the Amazon self-publishing site you told me about. They will market the book for you (although they also take a cut of profits). You can also purchase as many books as you'd like on your own and sell them however you'd like and keep the profits from those sales. That's what I'm hoping to do. Let's get together when you can! I'm sure it's not a coincidence that you found out, and God will turn this into a blessing in disguise.
I came over from Tatersmama's site. I think you should whatever action you can. I would bet that you have enough bloggie friends that would pull together and generate sales. Good Luck!
I can't believe that someone would do that, I do think that you should try to fight it if possible. People shouldn't be allowed to get away with that. I definitely think you could drum up enough interest. The blogging community is amazing.
Your work possesses Copy Rights by the fact that it exists; all created works do, regardless of whether or not they are filed with the Copyright Office. [For more info on this Google "Copyright".] If no contract exists to hand rights over to someone else, the reproduction of it without your consent is not merely shameful, it is criminal. Contacting a lawyer is about your only option, I think. I would definitely look into the legal option previously suggested.
I would not roll over on this and just try to publish and sell through this site. I like the Amazon idea because I think you'll get more traffic. But I definitely think you have every right to a "cease and desist." You may even win their inventory of your work in a suit and gain the profits from the sales thereof.
As one of your other commenters said, you HAVE the copyrights any time you publish merely by the date and time of publishing. This is yours. FIGHT! On whatever front you can. Definitely utillize the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. What a wonderful suggestion and link.
Great advice so far. I came thru Tatersmama also and I think this is a total rip-off and a criminal act. There should be some recourse for you beyond spending a small fortune trying to get your story back. Good luck to you.
Came over from Tatersmama...so sorry to hear that this happened to you! Lots of good advice has been given in the comments....I wish you the best of luck!
Jan, such a shame. To be honest publishing and selling books is very difficult. I have looked into it myself. However, that being said go ahead and try you have nothing to lose.
I would try to estimate what the cost would be if your book was successful and see if it would be worth it to take legal action. Also, would there be any revenue from additional publishings and so forth. If not, I think I would let it go and work on other projects. What is the cost to your bank account, peace of mind, time and family. That is the question.
I would call the place that holds the copyright (copyright authority) and check with them. They do pursue( it is their job) things like this and it might not cost you very much at all.
Hello, Jan! So sorry to hear that happened to you but like the others, I think you should fight!
Also--my little poetry group from livejournal (your_spirals)--just self-published a community book through lulu.com and we are so pleased with the results that we are beginning work on our second issue. I would highly recommend their service for self-publishing! ;)
I have seen some blogger do sell there books through blog in help of online shopping sites. Why can’t u move through the law in seek of compensation, those sold your book illegally?
Jan, I agree with the general concensus: That is your property and you should pursue the punishement of WHOever did the publishing and distribution. What they did was unlawful AND unethical. Also like the dea that you may be able to take over any inventory they may have. What I would do with that, however, is burn it so that no more of the illeagal copies were able to be sold! Then, I would retitle the book. Why? Because that would help me (just my thinking about me here) regain my ownership of the book. Best of luck ,my dear. Oh, and no babies yet!!!!!
Get Legal HELP!!! Whomever published knew they were stealing and breaking the law. You can get all of the info from the book your friend has. Do not roll over and play dead. Get it published, then offer it to us on your site also. Came over by Tatersmom.
Hey Jan! I had no idea this had happened to you and it is heartbreaking...I do know how this book series was truly your baby. I know in my heart that if you self-published it would be an overwhelming success, however I also think that the bad guys in this situation need to be prosecuted if at all feasible. Whatever I can do to help, count me in! Marissa
I've been selling books through my blog. I think with the way the publishing biz is, it's the only way to go. Plus, you were really wronged. Is there no way to get a pro bono lawyer to take you on?
Hi! I found your site thanks to Tatersmama. I am so sorry that happened to you. It doesn't seem like that should ever be able to happen.
I would fight it if you can find someone who can help you and I would consider self-publishing. My friend has a self-publishing site. Go to www.shared-self-publishing.com and see if you can find some help there. You can also contact my friend Steve,who runs the site, and see if he has any insights for you.
Hi Jan, I am so sorry, this is the pits. I hope you find some legal help. Pro bono or someone that will take part of the proceeds from a civil settlement. It is just not right, certainly there is some group out there someplace that will help you to take the thieves on. I came over via Muddy Boots/Tatersmom I hope you find some way to resolve the probem, and still keep your sanity:)
Kelly & Mary Beth said, on 3/30/2009 7:53:00 PM
Jan,
We are so sorry this happened. We have 5 nieces and nephews who are 8 or under and we would definately buy a copy for them if you decided to self-publish. If you need to drown your sorrows, come over for a glass of wine (or two). Wish there was more we could do.
How Firm are Book Publisher’s Guidelines on Book Length?
I had a question come up last week: how hard and fast are the rules about the length of a picture book manuscript? Can you get by with 1900 words? 2000 words? 2500 words?
The length requirements for every genre, from picture books to easy readers to short chapter to middle grade and teen novels — the recommended lengths are only guidelines.
Write your story the best way you can. Most editors will say to write the story you need to write. They will worry about how to fit it all into 32 pages, or if it should go to 48 pages or if it should be cut.
Some genres, some publishers are very strict on guidelines. On the other hand, some publishers and some genres have very strict guidelines. Easy readers are only allowed a certain number of characters per line and rarely exceed posted story length. If in doubt, ask the editor; or, simply follow the guidelines.
Consider your audience. You should also consider your readers and the characteristics and interests of the readers. For pre-school kids, do you really expect them to sit still and stay interested in something that is 2000 words long? Time yourself reading those 2000 words and consider the attention span of young children. Given a choice, wouldn’t they rather hear a story — complete with a beginning, middle, end and an emotional tug — in just 200 words?
Make sure you are matching up a story with an audience. If you are breaking the guidelines, ask yourself the tough question: is this story targeted to the right age audience?
Don’t fall in love with your words. Also, be sure — how to put this delicately — make sure you aren’t being lazy or sloppy in your writing. I’ve seen 2000 words stories that can easily be cut to 800 words and be all the better for it. I’ve had stories like that myself. Change as many verbs as possible to active verbs, eliminate all adverbs, and most adjectives; convert prepositional phrases to adjectives or omit; cut any redundancies; cut dialogue to bare minimum; etc. Cut.
Follow the guidelines — usually. In other words, the guidelines are guidelines for good reasons and if you ignore them, it is at your own peril. Yes, of course, you’ll find picture books at 1900 words; but they will be written for the upper elementary students, not the toddlers. But there will also be rare exceptions when the subject matter, the writing, or the genre will allow you to bend the guidelines — a little.
Don’t you hate it when you think of something when you are half asleep and it's crystal clear in every detail but when you come to note it down later, or in the morning, it's but a shadow of its former self. This happened to me recently. This is what I remember, but the original seemed so much more... I don’t know what... just more!
Last week I was almost asleep when I started thinking of a journey, not your average trip by car, plane or on foot and it wasn’t even my story…
You see there is this little squat horn-toed creature with sharp ears and a rather long chin. He is on his way along a winding path through what is obviously a fairytale land, you can tell that by the lane that meanders through unbelievably perfect countryside with undulating hills, all the optimum size for ‘pleasantness’. He is muttering and mumbling to himself as he approaches a small house with happily drooping roof, which might just look like it had been knitted if you looked at it in the right light. He has several packages under his arm that all look similar in shape and size. They are each wrapped in brown paper and tied with a piece of old knotted string.
He knocks at the door and when a young wench in a low cut blouse opens the door he gingerly hands over one of the rectangular packages. She frowns when she sees who is at the door but she takes the package. The creature looks pained as she is patently uninterested and quickly shuts the door before he has even finished speaking. He stands for a moment staring at the closed door, almost as if he wants to knock again.
Eventually he trots off along the road to the next building, which looms high above him, an imposing structure. This time he pulls a bell that rings sonorously, echoing through the valley. A tall, thin man opens the door. The horn-toed creature offers him one of the packages giving detailed instructions. The tall, thin man takes it and although he promises to deliver the package the creature shakes his head knowing that his precious package is unlikely to be opened at all, far less by the person it is intended for.
(yes, I can hear the large penny dropping as some of you read this!!)
Setting off once more he finally arrives at a shabby looking hut and on knocking at the door he is welcomed in by a scruffy old man and offered a mug of steaming ale. They sit together and the creature begins to talk at length as he offers the package, pushing it into the old man’s hands. The scruffy old man takes the sheaf of papers from the wrapping and starts to read the first few lines. In moments he is engrossed paying no attention to his guest.
Delighted, the creature sinks back into his chair and waits, unwilling to disturb the shabby old man’s obvious enjoyment of his manuscript. After a few pages the old man looks up and grins. They shake hands and the creature sets off with a spring in his step.
As he walks home he sees a familiar package at the top of the pile of rubbish outside the tall imposing building, wrapped in brown paper and string but slightly torn at the corner. A little further on he notices that one of the windows of the first house is open, unsurprising on this hot day, but he cans see that it is his manuscript that has been rolled up and used to stop the window closing.
With a shrug of his slightly bent shoulders he continues on his way home, still wearing a smile as he remembers the look on the old man’s face as he read, the delight and enthusiasm in his voice. The creature knows the old man may still decide not to take it but he is still happy because he is sure his precious words are being read and at least considered, not discarded……
3 Comments on The one that got away - Linda Strachan, last added: 11/18/2008
Unfortunately, when the creature came back a week later he found that the old man had vanished and in his place was the woman with the low cut bodice who now seemed to be in charge of two houses. Nobody knew anything about a package wrapped in brown paper and they had no time to spare because they were busy redecorating the house to make it look more attractive to people who did not normally venture into the countryside at all.
Frontenac Publishing (AB) invites poetry manuscripts for Dektet 2010: A Celebration of Canadian Poetry. Ten poetry books will be chosen for the series. Length: 65-85 pages. Selected manuscripts will receive a publishing contract, including a $1000 advance and royalties. Open to Canadian writers only. Deadline: October 31, 2008. More details...
Small feminist publisher Second Story Press (ON) is currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts of special interest to women. Accepts fiction, non-fiction and children’s books. More details...
The question I get asked most often these days is about the status of my finished manuscript, so here's the answer: Unknown.
Here's what I do know. My agent sent it out about six weeks ago and we've had one "pass" (such a euphemism for rejection! Like she's been asked if she wants a dinner roll, "No thanks, I'll pass."). We've had one offer for revision with an amazing Editor at a top house. And we have two Editors still considering the manuscript. One of those is male; a big-wig at a hot publishing house that is considered "independent" even though it's an imprint of a large British publisher. The other is female, a Senior Editor at an imprint of one of America's largest children's book publishing houses. Still cringing about the fact that people of this caliber are even reading my work. Seriously. Cringing.
Last communication with my agent was right before BEA. She was going to follow-up with the two outstanding editors (and I mean outstanding and in both personality and status with manuscript) this week. So hopefully we'll know something soon.
I feel pretty good about the whole thing. Even if the two outstanding don't make an offer, I still have a fall-back offer for revision with a Senior Editor who knows her s**t. It would be an honor to work with her; I had a manuscript critique with her at a writing conference last year (different manuscript) and I loved her humor, approach, and editorial eye.
When my manuscript went out to four editors a couple of weeks ago, I waved off questions about nerves or jitters. “I’m just glad I’m so deep into this new manuscript,” I’d said. “It keeps me from thinking about the other one at all.”
This worked, of course, for about 48 hours. I wrote with a new-found fervor for two full days and then the brakes locked up. I found myself sampling some of that powerful gateway drug, Google. While I have exercised great restraint in not putting those editors’ names into Google Alerts in order to get a fresh feed of information, I will admit to some seriously deep profiling.
I read their blogs, looked at their photos on Facebook or Myspace, read summaries of talks they given at conferences, even researched some hobbies I’d never heard of. For instance, one of these fine editors is into randonneuring, which I discovered is a fancy French word for long-distance unsupported endurance cycling. Spiraling into neurosis from too much Googling, I immediately concluded this editor would hate my work—that my dislike of anything 1) involving long distances 2) unsupported 3) that one has to endure or 4) cycling-related would somehow come across, despite the fact that not one of these four things is ever mentioned in my YA novel.
Then I realized that writing is exactly like randonneuring without the bike. It is nothing if not a long-distance, unsupported endurance race. I'm just grateful that lycra shorts aren't required.
Today I’m getting a grip. No search engines, no blog trolling for updates on current states of mind. I’m back to that manuscript I was so grateful to have—you know, the one that was keeping my mind off everything else…
Excellent article thanks for the heads up Karen and thanks Suzanne for the great advice once again.
Billie
Great tips, and as always good advice.
Terri
Billie, Suzanne certainly knows her stuff. Glad you found it helpful.
Terri, Thanks for stopping by. Suzanne does always have good advice!
Excellent tips and well worth working through every time we edit something - it's easy for weak verbs, 'stall phrases' (great term), and participle phrases to creep in.
Maggie, There is so much to watch out for that it's a good idea to have a checklist when self-editing.
Loved the Flabby or Fit analogy.